TNAG-1317-FCO40-1720-Future-of-Hong-Kong-meetings-of-the-Cabinet-Defence-and-Over-1984 — Page 95

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11. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL COMPRISES THE GOVERNOR (AS THE

PRESIDENT), THREE EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS

THE CHIEF SECRETARY, FINANCIAL SECRETARY, AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL - AND, AT PRESENT, 29 UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS AND 15 OFFICIAL MEMBERS, WHO ARE APPOINTED

BY THE GOVERNOR WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL'S

PRIMARY FUNCTION IS THE ENACTMENT OF LEGISLATION, INCLUDING

LEGISLATION FOR THE APPROPRIATION OF PUBLIC FUNDS. IT ALSO QUESTIONS

THE ADMINISTRATION ON MATTERS OF PUBLIC INTEREST AND DEBATES

QUESTIONS OF POLICY. IN ADDITION, IT EXERCISES CONTROL OVER THE

EXPENDITURE OF PUBLIC FUNDS THROUGH THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, WHICH CONSISTS OF THE CHIEF SECRETARY,

AS

CHAIRMAN, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, ONE OTHER OFFICIAL MEMBER OF

THE COUNCIL (BY CONVENTION THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS) AND

ALL THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

12. BENEATH THE GOVERNOR IN HIS CAPACITY AS THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE ARE

HIS THREE PRINCIPAL ADVISERS: THE CHIEF SECRETARY, WHO, (NEXT THO WORDS UNDERLINED) INTER ALIA, IS HEAD OF THE CIVIL SERVICE AND THE GOVERNOR'S DEPUTY: THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, WHO IS THE

GOVERNOR'S ADVISER ON BUDGETARY AND FISCAL POLICY AND ECONOMIC AND MONETARY AFFAIRS: AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, WHO IS THE GOVERNOR'S LEGAL ADVISER. THESE THREE OFFICIALS ARE MEMBERS EX-OFFICIO OF BOTH THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS AND, AS OF RIGHT, EACH HAS DIRECT ACCESS TO THE GOVERNOR. IT IS UNDER

THE DIRECTION OF THESE THREE PRINCIPAL ADVISERS THAT THE CIVIL

SERVICE OPERATES, THROUGH THE MACHINERY OF THE 14 BRANCHES OF

THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT AND 59 EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND

AGENCIES.

13. IN ADDITION TO THE THREE MAIN CONSTITUTIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND

THE CIVIL SERVICE ARE THE URBAN COUNCIL, 19 DISTRICT BOARDS, AND

AN EXTENSIVE NET WORK OF BOARDS AND COMMITTEES.

14. THE URBAN COUNCIL IS A STATUTORY AND FINANCIALLY AUTONGHOUS

BODY RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING MUNICIPAL SERVICES AS WELL AS CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES THROUGHOUT THE URSAN AREAS.

IT COMPRISES 30 COUNCILLORS, 15 OR WHOM ARE APPOINTED BY THE

GOVERNOR AND 15 DIRECTLY ELECTED ON A CONSTITUENCY BASIS. THE

CHAIRMAN 1S ELECTED BY THE COUNCIL FROM AMONGST ITS MEMBERSHIP.

THE ELECTED MEMBERS AUTOMATICALLY HAVE SEATS ON THE URBAN DISTRICT BOARDS IN WHOSE AREA THEIR CONSTITUENCY LIES, AND

APPOINTED MEMBERS ARE ALSO ALLOCATED SEATS ON DISTRICT BOLEOS.

THE

15. THE 18 DISTRICT BOARDS WERE SET UP IN 1982 ON A GEOGRAPHICAL

BASIS COVERING THE WHOLE OF HONG KONG. OF THE TOTAL MEMBERSHIP OF THE DISTRICT BOARDS, ABOUT ONE-THIRD ARE OFFICIALS, ONE-THIRD ARE APPOINTED UNOFFICIALS AND THE REMAINDER (132 AT PRESENT) ARE DIRECTLY ELECTED UNOFFICIALS. IT IS IN THE DISTRICT SOARDS THAT THE

CONCEPT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT BASED ON POPULAR ELECTIONS

HAS BEEN MOST WIDELY DEVELOPED. THE BOARDS PROVIDE A FORUM FOR

PUBLIC CONSULTATION AND PARTICIPATION AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL.

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